PM Modi’s presence fails to end House logjam

New Delhi: The government on Thursday charged the Opposition parties, mainly the Congress, of “changing the goal posts” on demonetisation discussion after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat through in Rajya Sabha amid uproar as the Opposition parties demanded an apology from him for certain remarks made targeting the critics of demonetisation.

Mr Modi reached the Upper House a minute before the scheduled time of Question Hour at 12 noon, kept sitting when the House was adjourned briefly and came again when the House re-assembled at 2 PM after lunch break. Questions relating to Prime Minister’s Office are listed on Thursdays’. Sources disclosed government managers had requested the PM that he should come to the Upper House at 2 pm as the Opposition had been accusing that the PM comes to the House only for the Question Hour and not for the demonetisation debate, which is yet to be resumed after November 16, first day of the winter session. Sources said the government wanted to turn the tables on the opposition, which was also surprised to find Mr Modi in the House at 2 pm.  

“First they (Opposition) were demanding that the PM should come to the House, then they demanded that he should intervene, which the government said that he will and that Finance minister will also reply, then they said he was coming only for the Question Hour (in both Houses) and now when he (PM) was there at 2 pm (in Rajya Sabha) they want an apology (from the PM),” said Parliamentary affair minister Ananth Kumar outside Parliament. He said while the demonetisation decision was getting as “unprecedented support” from the people, opposition has not discussed as yet the issue if they are really concerned. He said the Opposition was changing the goal posts on the issue everytime.

In Rajya Sabha, when the House adjourned briefly around 12.15 pm amid ruckus, many members, including from Opposition parties, were seen going to the PM’s seat to exchange pleasantries or for a chit-chat. Actor-turned-politician and SP member Jaya Bachchan, CPI(M)’s T.K. Rangarajan, SP’s Neeraj Shekhar among others were seen exchanging pleasantries with the PM. Boxer and member Mary Kom was also seen discussing certain things with Mr Modi. As members kept meeting him, there were some lighter moments too, as the Prime Minister was seen smiling at times.

Uproar continued when the House reconvened at 2 pm with the Opposition demanding apology from the Prime Minister for certain remarks he had made targeting the critics of demonetisation.

Agitated over the Opposition din, I&B minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Opposition has been exposed and Congress should apologise for the 60 years of misrule.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also objected to the demand for apology by the Prime Minister questioning whether he should apologise for targeting black money hoarders.